windowblinds reinstall or black on black

user interface changed to system level

from Stardock Forums
a couple of days ago i re-downloaded a copy of WindowBlinds (WB) 5 to install the most recent version.

at the start of the download i clicked the open button to go right into the install at the end of the transfer. while the install started it required me to switch to the "classic windows" theme and turn off WB. i clicked "windows classic" in a WB screen everything switched to black and white and greys and the screen redrew itself.

all is a little hazy at this point in the operation, but, operating system (os) background went black -- on the desktop and in all windows and drop down menus. so i had a screen that was black on black. (except for the cursor and icons -- all in color) only where third party software overode the os could i read the text, see buttons, or other graphics.

i managed to uninstall WB, hoping that would stop the problem. no luck.

only after a bizarre chat support interaction with HP did i get the stock windows xp theme back. [could not see what i was keying and don't think person at other end really understood.] but, the black on black is still present when i look at other bundled stock xp themes. further bizarre contacts with HP tech support in India (the Madras region) were fruitless -- all they want to do is a system reset or system recovery. the reset will not complete and makes no changes. and i am not prepared to wipe the h.d. and start over just yet (system recovery).

is WB too dangerous in its interactions with the os or are some WB themes unstable?

any ideas on how i can fix my screen graphics problems? also entire system running extremely slow. related?

it seems to me that something was modified deep in the gotd*m registry. so my inclination is to use Registry Compressor to activate an earlier saved registry (2 june) to overwrite the current "corrupted(?)" registry.

but then do i want reload WB or give up on it as nice idea but too dicey under the windows environment?

mick
windowblinds
3,991 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
is WB too dangerous in its interactions with the os or are some WB themes unstable?


some themes may be 'unstable' dependent on video drivers and/or if you are running WFX.
you don't mention any problems like this prior to your redownloading

where did you get it from?

paid, trial or cracked?

paid - helps if you can open WB config and click system info and copy/paste that here - or you might consider contacting support via email or ticket.

trial - runs out - subsequent downloads won't help

cracked - shame on you.  I only mention this because I am a Troll and your symptoms kind of seem real similar to the ones in this post: https://forums.wincustomize.com/?ForumID=167&AID=95598#927246
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I was having issues, but not as bad as your's... Were you using the 009b or the 006 version of Window Blinds?
DeskScapes - Bring your desktop background to life.
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Were you using the 009b or the 006 version of Window Blinds?


I'm guessing 006 - trial

If you have the full package and access to betas then 99.99% of the time people will correctly state "update" with the version to which they updated.

99.97% of the time I have read "redownload to get the most current version" - it's released trial versions.


yes, I made those numbers up - but I bet they are not far off.

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
i paid Stardock for it with real american dollars.

and it's a full package WindowBlinds 5.

if there is another designation like build number, i don't have it anymore. i uninstalled the copy i was running.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
did you install as a regular stand alone download? or through the Stardock Central Browser?
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
with real american dollars.


we all know that doesn't always mean as much as it used to.  
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Stardock Central Browser : https://www.stardock.com/products/sdcentral/

Since you uninstalled 5, reboot, download and install SDC.
Run SDC, register WB in it (tools, register products) or click registration info down on bottom right.

Once registered WB will show as available (it may show as available prior to registering, but that may be the trial)
click on WB in SDC and click install.
Using SDC, I've had no problems with installs.  It will also keep you apprised of any updates you are entitled to.  It will give cleaner access to other products (free, trial or paid [once the product is registered]).    You can use it to archive the products for later restore, or for when changing computers.  it's useful.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If all you purchased was WB5 and not the full ODNT package, you won't get access to betas, just released versions for a year.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The only reason WB would turn the entire UI black would be if you set WBs gamma settings to the lowest possible value.  In which case wb.ini (windows dir) should be deleted and WBs settings will be reset.

Applying a WB skin will apply the colour scheme, but WB does not save this to the registry.  However, a user could cause this to be saved if they used the Themes tab.  In which case switching to another theme would work.

Black or not, the performance of your machine should not be any slower than normal and other Stock XP themes (and by themes I assume you mean Windows Classic as thats the only other theme included with XP) should function fine as they apply their own colour schemes.